Fostering research and innovation is, according to the EU Directive for the creation of the ERNs, one of their main missions.
The ERNs, although funded by the EU4Health program, are not research projects per se and cannot directly fund research and innovation initiatives. But they offer unique opportunities to medical teams who wish to develop, lead, and submit grant applications for research projects or just be partners in a funded project. This opportunity is offered to all medical teams, independently of their status (full or affiliated member, collaborating partner). To foster research, EpiCARE developed several Working Groups covering all aspects of epilepsy care. Every effort is also made by our patient advocates group to be represented in all WGs and contribute a better understanding of patient needs and expected outcomes.
To ensure an optimal coordination to foster research and innovation, EpiCARE funds a Project Manager competent in epilepsy research, Sébile Tchaicha. The Research Council aims to stimulate multicentre studies; optimize ethical, methodological, and statistical approaches; improve and optimize trial feasibility and reliability. Between other missions, the members of the Research Council also contribute and/or follow the activities of projects such as the EJP RD, SOLVE-RD, ERICA, EBRAINS, Human Brain Project, EpiCLUSTER and others.
Upon request, the Research Council supports EpiCARE members wishing to evaluate a research project before submission, provides advice for collaboration with other medical teams, members or not of the network. It can also provide letters of support by the network, particularly by reinforcing the feasibility information for a given project (use of the Registry; proposal for EpiCARE partners etc.). The council shares with all, 3 times per year, a newsletter including updated information on HORIZON and other research calls.
September 2025. Lisbon (Portugal). Kees Braun. The ERN EpiCARE recently provided a framework of 6 priorities in epilepsy research.
Can you summarize those for us?
This position paper, developed by the European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE) in collaboration with its Patient Advocacy Group, defines six areas of research priorities in epilepsy. Each section describes key challenges, current knowledge, and areas for improvement. They focus on preventing epilepsy, developing targeted therapies, improving surgery and clinical trials, using artificial intelligence to support diagnosis, and addressing comorbidities such as cognition, sleep, and overall health. Each provides a roadmap for clinicians and researchers to guide their research projects within their areas of expertise. Collectively, these priorities converge on actions for improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes through European collaboration and sustainable research efforts.
If you are interested to voluntarily contribute to this WG activities, please use the contact form to let us know.
